Laundry washing machines



Nov. 14, 1967 v G. SMITH 3,352,131

LAUNDRY WASHING MACHINES Aiorneys Nov. 14, 1967 G. SMITH 3,352,131

LAUNDRY WASHING MACHINES Original Filed Sept. 17, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 nUerIlor A Horne )15 Nov. 14, 1967 G. SM|TH LAUNDRY WASHING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet Original Filed Sept.

7h25 Attorney;

Nov. 14, 1967 G. SMWH 3,352,131

LAUNDRY WASHING MACHINES original Filed Spt. 17, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor Attorneys United States Patent 3,352,131 LAUNDRY WASHING MACHINES Geolrey Smith, Findon, England, assignor to Polymark (Holdings) Limited Original application Sept. 17, 1962, Ser. No. 223,891, now Patent No. 3,201,958, dated Aug. 24, 1965. Divided and this application Apr. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 447,367

Claims priority, application Great Britain, Sept. 21, 1961, 33,828/61 Claims. (Cl. 68-58) This application is a division of my co-pending application Ser. No. 223,891, filed Sept. 17, 1962.

The present invention relates to improvements in laundry Washing machines, and it has for its object to provide a machine capable of carryin-g out washing and associated operations in such manner that articles being washed travel progressively relatively to the ilow of washing medium but in the opposite direction, so that articles which have already been washed encounter the clean incoming medium and incoming articles encounter the washing medium which has already been in contact with a series of articles in preceding stages. lt is to be understood that the references herein to washing include other similar operations such as hot or cold rinsing operations, hot treatment operations, such as are commonly referred to as boiling operations, and preliminary washing operations.

In accordance with the present invention a laundry washing machine comprises a rotatable inner cage to receive articles to be washed, with washing medium inlets and an outer casing, and in which the inner cage is provided with internal peripheral annular division members dividing the inner cage into separate partial compartments through which the articles are to be ca-used to progress, and wherein each partial compartment is provided with baille members adapted to raise articles within each partial compartment to a high level and then allow them to fall into liquid in the lower part of the inner cage.

A washing medium may be admitted at one end and steam and/or detergent may be admitted at different points of the outer cage so that different regimes of operation are maintained in different sections of the inner cage through which the articles being washed are caused to pass in succession in transit from one end of the inner cage to the other.

If desired, additional quantities of washing medium are admitted to predetermined points of the outer cage intermediate the ends thereof to maintain predetermined liquid levels at various points of the outer cage, by-pass ducts being provided as required to assist in maintaining the required levels.

The inner cage is preferably perforated and provided with a series of inwardly directed beaters to ensure that articles being washed are continuously agitated and maintained in circulation within the inner cage, 'such articles being lifted to a high level and then allowed to fall towards the lower part while the cage is in rotation.

Conveniently, the inner cage is provided with a series of scoops around its periphery, such scoops being arranged in a series of parallel peripheral rows so that liquid is caused to flow from the space within the outer cage into the inner cage to maintain an efficient washing action upon the articles.

The outer cage may be provided with a series of inwardly directed iin-like portions extending towards and nearly into contact with the inner cage so asto assist in providing separate zones where different operating re-gimes are maintained and to prevent the through ow of washing medi-um lengthwise along the outer cage and causing said washing medium to ilow in successive paths ICC into and out of the inner cage to maintain an eflicient Washing .action on articles being treated.

The movement of the articles through the inner cage is eiected by the provision of a part-circular troughshaped member within the cage which is movable to a position where it lies in the lower quadrant of the space enclosed by the inner cage so that articles bein-g handled in different sections of the cage fall on to and are supported by said trough-like member, means being provided for shifting said member longitudinally within the inner cage, and thereafter rotating it, so that the articles are transferred each to the next following zone respectively.

Alternatively, the axes of the inner cage and the outer cage yare arranged at a small inclination to the horizontal so that the articles being treated tend to shift progressively along the inner cage from one end to the other.

'One embodiment of the invention is shown by way of example on the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal View and in diagrammatic form of a laundry washing machine according to the invention, v

FIG. 2 shows a detail taken lengthwise of the beaters,

FlG. 3 shows a detail showing the mounting for the inner cage and including a sectional view through the beaters and the scoops, and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line VlI--VII of FIG. l.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated on the accompanying drawings, the features of a laundry washing machine are shown comprising a closed liquidholding outer cage 11 housing a perforated inner cage 12 rotatable within the ca-ge 11 and in which various regimes of operation are maintained. Articles to be washed are received at or near one end of the inner cage 12 and are moved step-by-step through this cage towards the other end, and at least the major part of the washing medium is admitted to the plant adjacent said other end of the inner cage while the spent washing medium'is taken away adjacent the point where incoming articles are admitted to the inner cage.

The inner cage 12 is maintained in rotation during the washing process, and it may, if desired, be reversed in direction from time to time. During operation and While the inner cage 12 is in rotation, the latter contains articles at diierent positions of its length, which are being subjected to Various regimes of operation, that is to say they are being subjected to various washing operations, and are moved through the inner cage.

A progressive and continuous movement of articles within the inner cage may -be obtained if the inner cage 12 and the outer cage 11 are slightly and adjustablyinclined to the horizontal. As shown, however, a part-circular trough-like member 51 is provided which lies cornparatively close to the inner wall of the inner ca-ge 12 and may lie-in an inoperative position towards the right of left-hand side of the inner cage 12 as indicated, according to the direction of rotation of the inner cage 12. This trough-like member 51 is suitably supported for example on arms 54 and extends beyond the inner cage 12 at both ends and receives articles to be washed in successive batches or charges. The arms 54 are adapted to be rocked, for example, Iby means of the motor 54a in order to move the trough-like member 51 axially. Swinging movement of the member 51 may be effected by means of the motor 51a which rotates a shaft 51d secured to an arm of the trough-like member 51. The shaft 51d is supported in the lbore of a sleeve 51b having a ange 51C thereon which is bolted to driving motor 51a. The opposite end of the trough-like member 51Y has a shaft 51e pivotally supported within a sleeve 511 Delivery of outgoing articles after progressing through the inner cage 12 is effected in any convenient manner for example onto a conveyor belt.

As shown in FIG. l an outer cage 11 of substantially circular shape is supported on a frame member 15. The inner cage 12 is rotatably supported within the outer cage 11 by means of a series of adjustable support rollers (see also FIG. 3) which engage smooth rings 21 on the inner cage 12. The rings 21 are disposed at each side of toothed ring members 22 which are arranged for engagement at the top of the outer cage 11 by driving pinions 23 carried by a shaft 24 driven lby a motor 25 through a variable speed `gearing 26 indicated in outline form. The support rollers 20 may, if desired, include an idler pinion 201 between them and lateral guidance may be obtained by a lateral guide roller 202 (see FIG. 3) disposed on a nearly radial axis. The slight inclination to the true radial direction is such that the bearing faces are of slightly tapered form to secure good running properties.

In all cases the design is such that the liquid volume between the inner cage 12 and the outer cage 11 is reduced to the minimum so that the washing medium is caused to travel through the inner cage rather than between the inner and outer cages, and this action may be assisted by the provision of ring members 52 (FIG. 2) as explained hereinafter.

The peripheral walls of the inner cage 12 are perforated and said cage is provided internally with a series of V-shaped beaters 13. The side walls of these beaters are also perforated and there is a non-perforated lengthwise division member 27. The space within said beaters is furthermore divided into a number of separate sections by means of radial plates 28 shown on FIG. 2 extending at right angles to the division member 27 The inner cage 12 is divided into compartments by ring-shaped division members S3 parts of which form the plates 28 which extend across the beaters. These compartments provide Zones in the cage 12 within which various operating regimes can be maintained.

Scoops 29 are attached to the outer wall of the inner cage 12 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, one set of scoops being conveniently arranged opposite each division member 27, while additional scoops may be provided on the peripheral sections between adjacent beaters 13. These scoops are arranged in a series of parallel zones around the container and each scoop comprises a box-like portion extending in both directions on the outer face of the cage 12, being supported by an extension portion 30 of the division member 27. It will be seen that on rotation of the. inner cage 12 in one direction or the other, one or other of the projecting portions of each scoop tends to force the washing medium into the inner cage 12 and those scoops arranged near the beaters 13 cause a flow of liquid through the perforations in the beaters, all of the water streams so directed into the inner cage assisting in maintaining an efficient washing action upon the articles being handled.

This action upon the articles being washed will now be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings where it is assumed that the inner cage 12 is to rotate in the anti-clockwise direction. The beater 13 which is at the lowermost section of the inner cage 12 tends to lift a charge of articles initially in an upward path, resting in the angle between one perforated side wall of the beater and the peripheral wall of the cage, and this charge of articles is thus carried upwardly almost to the top of the inner cage from which point the articles fall towards the lower part of the inner cage, without coming into contact with the trough-shaped member 51. After `a predetermined period `of operation when it is desired that the articles shall carry out the next step in their movement, the trough-shaped member 51 is brought to its lowermost position, as indicated on FIG. l as a result of which the several batches of articles in the cage 12 collect upon the trough-like member at different points since they fall on to it by the action of the beaters 13. Then the trough-shaped member 51 is caused to make an axial movement sufficient for the articles t0 be moved respectively into the next washing Zone in the inner cage 12 and at the same time a new batch of articles may be placed on the trough-shaped member 51 at the end which receives incoming articles and a batch of articles which has already been treated is removed from the other end of the inner cage 12 lby means of the trough which has now been shifted to its new position. Then the trough-shaped member 51 returns to its original position dropping the batches of articles thereon into the base of the inner cage 12 for continued washing at the next washing stages respectively.

The outer cage 11 contains washing medium to a predetermined level in the static state, but, of course, this washing medium is maintained in continuous movement by the rotation of the inner cage 12 so that at any particular moment only a fraction of the washing medium lies externally of the cage 12 since most of the liquid is caused to flow into and through the cage 12 partly by the rotation of said cage itself and partly by the action of the scoops 29 which maintain a flow of liquid inwardly of the cage 12, such inward movement of the liquid being effected through the peripheral walls of the cage 12 and also through the perforated leading faces of the beaters 13.

The inward movement of the washing medium acting on the batch of articles being carried upwardly in the angle between each rising beater 13 and the peripheral wall of the inner cage 12 helps in preventing the articles from being pressed against the Walls of the cage and maintains an efficient washing action at every point of the movement of the articles during the washing operations.

In all cases the articles are moved lengthwise through the inner cage 12., this movement being in the opposite direction to the flow of washing medium through the plant. Thus, for example, incoming articles can be supplied on a conveyor in a continuous flow and they then pass for example by means of a guide chute into one end of the cage 12 which is provided with a feed opening 35 for this purpose.

Articles being washed and caused to travel through the inner cage 12 by reason either of the inclination of the cages 11 and 12, or by the use of a C-shaped trough 51, are removed from the inner cage 12 at an outlet 36 at the opposite end thereof in any convenient way.

As already indicated, the washing medium flows in the opposite direction to the travel of articles through the inner cage 12, and for this purpose clean incoming washing medium is admitted through a pipe 41 to the end of the outer cage 11 from which the articles which have nished their treatment are withdrawn. The spent washing medium removed from the other end of the cage 11 near the feed opening 35 for the articles, is taken olf through a pipe 42 as spent liquor.

It will be understood that a series of different washing regimes may be maintained in the different zones of the inner cage 12 and these may vary and may be varied to suit particular requirements. One example may comprise the following steps, counting from the inlet 35 to the outlet 36:

(l) Cold washing operation. (2) Hot washing operation. (3) Boiling operation.

(4) Hot rinse.

(5) Cold rinse.

In order to maintain these different regimes of operation various additions may be made to the washing medium flowing through the outer cage 11. For example, and as shown on FIG. l, a steam supply pipe 43 may be provided which embodies one or more delivery pipes 44 to admit steam at one or more points of the cage 11.

It will, of course, be understood that with this type of operation and with the equipment in continuous movement, it is difficult to say that the washing medium reaches any particular level in the outer cage 11 at any particular point because a large proportion of the washing medium is being circulated through the inner cage 12, which action is promoted by the action of the scoops 29 which maintain a substantial proportion of the liquid in movement from the upper part of the inner cage 12 to the lower part thereof. Nevertheless, it'may be found that a greater proportion of washing medium collects in certain zones of the outer cage 11 than is required for the operations in those sections of the equipment, while other parts of the inner cage 12 may be short of washing medium, and to avoid this diiculty a by-pass pipe 48 may be provided for collecting liquid from one part of the cage 12 and returning it to another part thereof, or a series of such pipes may be provided as required to maintain the proper amounts of liquid at various points of the inner cage 12.

Conveniently, the washing medium admitted at the pipe 41 will comprise lime-free softened water so that the section of the cage towards which the clothes travel is effective for rinsing the articles completing the washing stages. In this case detergent media are added to the washing medium at any suitable point of the outer cage 11. Thus, for example, a detergent liquid or powder may be fed into the cage 11 by means of a feed pipe 50, as indicated on FIG. l.

In many cases it may be desirable to pr-ovide means within the outer cage 11 which hinder the free llow of washing medium or water and to ensure that all this liquid passes through the inner cage 12. For this purpose and as indicated on FIGS. l, 2 and 4 of the drawings, a series of inwardly directed fins or rings 52 are attached to the inner wall of the outer cage 11 and terminate comparatively close to the peripheral wall of the inner cage 12, these fins or rings 52 being placed between successive rows of scoops 29 as will be most clearly seen on FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

In any event, however, the spacing between the outer surface of the inner cage 12 and the inner wall of the outer cage 11 is kept as small as possible in volume so that the washing medium fed in through the pipe 41 is absorbed to the greatest possible extent by the inner cage 12 where it is applied in contact with the articles under treatment and travelling through the inner cage 12.

Where such tins or rings 52 are provided the positions thereof may coincide with the positions of the division members 53 and the radial plates 28 dividing the beaters 13 into separate zones. With an arrangement of this type the washing medium cannot flow freely within the outer cage 11 but is forced by the action of the scoops to travel inwardly into the inner cage 12, and the progressive movement of the washing medium is effected mainly by the movement thereof within the inner cage 12, thus maintaining an eilicient washing action upon the articles.

In FIGS. l and 4 the inner cage 12 may be formed of a plurality of independent, axially aligned sections and the outer cage 11 may likewise be formed in sections, one for each section of the inner cage. As indicated in FIG- URE l a motor 54a with a crank arrangement is provided for swinging the arms 54 backwards and forwards as required, and another motor 51a is provided for rotating the trough-shaped member through 90 from its midposition, as required.

What I claim is:

1. A laundry washing machine in which articles to be washed travel in a direction opposite to that of a flow of washing medium, comprising a rotatable inner cage to receive the articles to Ibe washed, an outer casing surrounding the inner cage and intended to receive the washing medium, inlets for washing medium opening into said outer casing, internal peripheral annular division members within the inner cage dividing the inner cage into separate partial components through which the articles are caused to progress and baille members extending inwardly from the inner cage within each partial compartment, which baffle members are adapted to raise articles within each partial compartment to a high level and then allow them to fall into the washing medium in the lower part of the inner cage.

2. A laundry washin-g machine, as claimed in claim 1, comprising washing medium inlets at one end of the outer casing and further inlets for auxiliary media at an intermediate point of the outer casing to maintain different regimes of operation in different sections of the inner cage, the articles 'being washed passing successively through said diierent regimes of operation in transit from one end of the inner cage to the other.

3.A laundry washing machine, as claimed in claim 1, comprising additional inlets for washing medium at intermediate points of the length of the outer casing to maintain predetermined liquid levels in said casing, and by-pass ducts extending between different intermediate points of the outer casing to maintain predetermined liquid levels in the outer casing.

4. A laundry washing machine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner cage is provided with a series of scoops around its periphery, such scoops being arranged in a series of parallel peripheral rows so that liquid is caused to flow from the space within the outer casing surrounding the inner cage, into the latter to maintain an efficient washing action upon the articles.

5. A laundry washing machine, as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the said scoops comprises a supporting web and a portion extending peripherally forwardly and rearwardly from said web so as to produce an inwardly directed ow of washing medium through the inner cage wall for either direction of rotation of the inner cage.

6. A laundry washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said baille members is in the form of a beater and comprises an imperforate web portion an extension of which forms a division member for one of said scoops, and V-shaped perforated portions fitting over said web, so that by the action of the scoops washing medium is directed inwardly through one of the said perforated portions of said baffle members, according to the direction of rotation of the inner cage.

7. A laundry washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer casing is provided with a series of inwardly directed iin-like portions extending towards and nearly into contact with the inner cage so as to assist in providing separate zones where different operating regimes are maintained and to prevent the through flow of washing medium lengthwise along the outer casing, and causing said washing medium to ilow in successive paths into and out of the inner cage to maintain an efficient washing action on articles being treated.

8. A laundry washing `machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movement of the articles through the inner cage is effected by the provision of a part-circular troughshaped member within the inner cage which is movable to a position where it lies in the lower quadrant of the space enclosed by the inner cage so that articles 'being handled in different sections of the inner cage fall on to and are supported by said trough-like member, means being provided for shifting said member longitudinally within the inner cage, and thereafter rotating it, so that the articles are transferred each to the next following zone respectively.

9. A laundry washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the axes of the inner cage and the outer casing are arranged at a small inclination to the horizontal so that the articles being treated travel progressively along the inner cage from one end to the other.

10. A laundry washing machine in which articles to be Washed travel in a direction opposite to that of a ow of washing medium, comprising a rotatable casing to receive the articles to be washed and the washing medium, inlets for washing medium opening into said casing, internal peripheral annular division members within the cas- 7 E ing dividing it into separate partial components through 1,402,765 1/ 1922 Haskell 63-181 which the articles are caused to progress and bafe mern- 1,577,860 3/ 1926 Yates 68-142 bers extending inwardly from the casing within each par- 2,180,225 11/ 1939 Dewhurst 68-140 tial compartment, which -bafe members are adapted to 2,300,690 11/ 1942 Neuman 68-158 X raise articles within each partial compartment to a high 5 2,401,947 6/ 1946 Locke et al. 68-139 X level and then allow them to fail into the washing rne- 3,035,430 5/ 1962 Rothenberger 684-58 X dium in the lower part of the casing. FOREIGN PATENTS References Cited 217,047 1/ 1957 Australia. UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 489,794 8/ 1938 Great Br1taxn.

110,749 1/ 1871 Deveau 68-139 IRVING BUNEVICH, Primmy Examiner. 1,029,866 6/1912 Haskell 68-181 X 

1. A LAUNDRY WASHING MACHINE IN WHICH ARTICLES TO BE WASHED TRAVEL IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO THAT OF A FLOW OF WASHING MEDIUM, COMPRISING A ROTATABLE INNER CAGE TO RECEIVE THE ARTICLES TO BE WASHED, AN OUTER CASING SURROUNDING THE INNER CAGE AND INTENDED TO RECEIVE THE WASHING MEDIUM, INLETS FOR WASHING MEDIUM OPENING INTO SAID OUTER CASING, INTERNAL PERIPHERAL ANNULAR DIVISION MEMBERS WITHIN THE INNER CAGE DIVIDING THE INNER CAGE INTO SEPARATE PARTIAL COMPONENTS THROUGH WHICH THE ARTICLES 